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One of the misconceptions that has developed on this group is that there are plenty of old, low drag cars eg from the 1930s. In fact, when they are tested in modern wind tunnels, I don't know of any at all. (The claims of the time are notoriously optimistic.)
There are old low-drag shapes - but not cars.
Modern cars are the ones to look at if you want to gain lessons in low-drag design - today's cars are lower in drag and lift than any production cars that have come before.
The Tropfenwagen is one of my all-time 'hero' cars but I wouldn't copy any of its technology if I were building a car today.
The Tropfenwagen's Cd was just stunning - for its time. It isn't stunning today. Taking a guess made in a book as to what the Cd would have been if the wheels had been enclosed, and then somehow extrapolating even further as to what total drag would be of a modern version of that car, seems about a useful as doing the same for the design of its 2.58 litre W6 engine.
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